I’m back with another “Books, Briefly” – the new segment of Archetypes and Anecdotes that highlights books with a shorter, concise review. Enjoy!
Title: Interpreter of Maladies
Author: Jhumpa Lahiri
“Still, there are times I am bewildered by each mile I have traveled, each meal I have eaten, each person I have known, each room in which I have slept. As ordinary as it all appears, there are times when it is beyond my imagination.”
Interpreter of Maladies – Jhumpa Lahiri
READ IF YOU LIKE: Short story collections; Reading about everyday, realistic life; Stories about immigrant perspectives; literary fiction
MOOD: Serious, contemplative
| Likes | Dislikes |
| Short story format allows for a variety of anecdotes and perspectives on the Indian American experience | Some stories in the collection are better written than others |
| Descriptive, calming, beautiful writing style | Although meant to provoke emotion about the identity struggles Indian Americans experience, some stories were too subtle to be successful |
| Provides perspective on a marginalized group |
FINAL THOUGHTS: This collection of short stories provides specific insights into the worlds of nine+ Indian American / Indian immigrant characters and experiences. Some stories are better written than others, so there may be inconsistency in the reader’s emotional connection to the collection as a whole. The beauty of short story collections, however, is that they allow the reader to pick and choose which stories they enjoy and want to read, which works for reading this book. Overall, solid collection, but better suited for literary analysis than reading for pleasure.
Archetypes & Anecdotes 
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